A strain difference in the adrenal zona glomerulosa determined by one gene-locus.

Abstract

The zona glomerulosa is well developed in the adrenal glands of CBA/FaCam mice and poorly developed in those of Peru mice. Measurements were made of the width of the subcapsular zone in hematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin sections of the adrenals of young adult malemice from these 2 strains, their F1, and the backcrosses to the parental strains.The pattern of results found in these stocks implies that the major portion of the strain difference is controlled by genetic variation at a single locus. The results of progeny tests of individual backcross backcross mice are in agreement with this hypothesis. It is suggested that the dominant allele found in CBA mice be called Ezg and that found in Peru mice, ezg. Sodium deficiency results in glomerular hypertrophy in CBA mice but not inPeru mice, even though urinary sodium measurements implied that both kinds of mice could effectively conserve sodium. The relationship between the difference in the zona glomerulosa and known differences in the metabolism of el...